Improvement in portable fences



v To all whom 'it may concern:

lhave invented a new and useful Improvement linga portable or stationary fence with a supthe picket or piece that joins the panels or time a kind'ot' key that binds the parts ofthe .holds the panels together.' Fig. 5 shows the ends of the railsw`rhalved .together instead of UNITE-p l STArns vl-Aram OFFICE.

JOHN M. MAY, or JANEsviLLE, AND EDWIN B; conrnnv, osnkosn, i wIseoNsIN. I

` IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FENCE'S.

Specification forming pai-t of Letters Patent No. 48,701, dated July 11, 1865; antedated June 23, 1865.

Be it known that we, JOHN M. MAY, ,of Janes ville, Rock county, and State of' Wisconsin, and EDWIN B. GODFREY, of Oshkosh, Winnehago county, in the said State of Wisconsin,

in a Stationary and Portable Fence for Farm and other Purposes; and we. do hereby declare the following is aiull, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specication, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in each gure.

The nature ot' our invention consists in makport that dispenseswhollyvwithnails or spikes,

lengths of fence together being 'at the same fence and its supports firmly together. B y removing the picket-key the panels of the fence and their supporting-pieces fall apart, and the fence may be readily removed; also, inl so constrnctinga-portable'or stationary fence that the picket or piece that joins together the panels of the fence also serves as a pivot to form a kind of hinge orA joint to allow the fence to be made in avcurved or circular form, or in a straight line, without 'altering the manner of constructing the fence or its supports; also, in Aso forming the'picket or piece that holds 'the panels of the fence together that when the jointsof the fence become loosefrom the shrinking of the Wood of which the felice is made they are made tight and rin by turning the picket in a horizontaldirection,by which movement it acts as a keyor wedge.

Figure 1 is an elevation or View of a part of two panels offence put together, with a part broken away to show the manner of-its construction. Fig. is a vertical section at right angles with. Fig. l, showing .the braces and base cut through their centers, the picket that connects the panels being left entire. Fig. 3- is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2, showing an equivalent mode of fastening the panels or rails together. Fig. 4 is a top `view of a part ofthe base or sill that receives the picket that being placed one above the other, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,3, and 6. Fig. 6 shows another equivalent mode of making the key-picket. Fig. 7 is a top view, showing an angle at the junction of the rails', and a section ofthe picket that is used in forming the pivot orjoint. Fig.

8 represents a. portion of the'base at right angles with Fig. 1 and'a portion ot' the picket that with the base forms a wedge or key that holds the fence together.

A in Figs. 1,2, and 3 represents theiground on which the fence stands.

B is the base or sill that receivesthe lower -end of the picket C, and D D are tle lower and E E the upper rails that receive the pickcts G G G G G,'lwhich rails and pickets form the panels vot' the fence. Three rails instead of two rails to each panel may be used, every alternate picket passing through the middle and lowerrails only in the usual manner.

F F are the braces that, with the picket and base'B, when all are in their places, hold the fence firmly in a perpendicular position. The perforations O 0 at the bottom of the recess that receives the foot of the braces are to allow water to drain away from the foot ot' the braces and prevent decay.-A Thejupper end ot/ the braces F F in Figs. 1 and 2 are madevconcave on the part'next to the picket() to it the picket, as indicated by dotted lines at h 7., and thetop of the brace tits the under side of the rail E, as shown; or the upper end of the brace may be made tapering, as F' F', to tit corre-y sponding recessesl in the rail E, as shown in Fig. 3; or other safe equivalent mode maybe adopted'touuite the upper endsofthe .braces to the rails.

In Fig. l the base and lower end'otl picket C arerepresented as cut through their centers longitudinally with the fence, showing the neck or wrist H and bits or projections I I ot' the picket. These' parts are also shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 8. The upper portions -of the bits LI that come in contact with the base are beveled p to form a kind of Wedge, as shown in Figs.,2

andl 8, and by dotted lines at a a in -Fig. 1. Fig. 8 also shows the beveled partof bit I, -and also the bevel or inclined plane' from j to l'in the notch c in the base B,while the dotted line from k to m shows the 'corresponding wedge vas much strength as whentwo are used.

j The dott-edlnes atb in, Fig. 1 show -theshapeof the base atrightgnigieswith itsl length .when not cnt away to form the .notch or gain to makeA room i'or'lhe bits i I. This notch isbitsl'and shoulder-d in Fig. -1. red dotted lines in Fig. 3 show that a head lor I on the opposite side of the picket. Now, as the picket C is turned in a horizontal direction one way the shoulder d of the picket C and the base Bare drawn toward each other, griping 'and holdingfirmly braces F F and rails E E,

- thus .making a firm support for the fence. Byl turning the picket@ in the opposite'direction' andlwithd'rawin g it from' the base and the rails the .parts are separated, so that theycanibel readily transported. By this plan of building .a fence, either permanent or portable, the use .of nails-or spikes, and. also posts, s'wholly' dispensed with. It Vmay bev observed that t-he/y e beveled'partof the base B, that comesin confA tact with bits 1 I or the beveled parts ofthe- 4 bits 1 L mayb'egoinitted; butl both should. be A beveled, adding 'thereby'greater efficiency to *the wedge or keypinciple, applied as herein described; also', that, the'neck H ofthe picket C being of greater thickness than'the -bits- I I, the picket is ,fkept centrally in place' asxitis turned, asisgshbwn in Fig. 4;' .and also that one bit only may be used, but'will not ini-part V'also shown 'at cin Figs; 2 and 8;

lThe picket C also serves as a pivoti'or the railsfand panels at their ends when the fence is needed to be bnilt in'another-direction than av straightlirie, as is shownin Fig..7, and is usefulin making stack-yards, .small inclosures, and

f' .whenevera deviation from aA straight line is. desired, whether as a field-fence or otherwise...-

Fig.'3 shows alnode of keying the base B holes infpicket C', one pin pressing base-'B and'theiother Lpin pressing 'the upper rail, E,

serve substantially the-purpose as that of' the shoulder underneath baseB may he'use'd inthe best, being but one piece, instead of three pieces, and the `liability to get broken or lost diminished inthe same orina greater` ratio.

- 2 ascoli 4In Fig. 3 the ends of the base B resten I.

blocks ct' wood or stones M, making-'room for the lowerends of the'pickets, also keeping it and the base from the ground.:v Base B in manner.

Figs. l. and 2 maybe arrangedin 'the same -Fig. 5 shovis. the rails halved together, ind stead of onebeing placed on. the other, as in the othen' figures. Either, as desired, may be used. v. n

This fence is deemed of especia-l beneiton lthe 'prairies for subdividing temporary large inclosnres having different kindsof crops, also in securing sheep at night 'where the pasturage isi the open prairie, or where pastures are frequently changed. rlhis style o f fence is, more-v over, very readily manufactured by m achinery.

We are awa-reV that panels of picket-fence have been made self-supportin g by placing the panels in,` a'zigzag position, the corners fasten ed together by a picket; but this fence would .not stand ina straight line', and we do notclaim thator analogous devices to support a fence.

We are also aware that portable felices have been made 'with a base placedat right angles with the line'of thefence and havingan up rig'ht or Apiece to receive the boards, and also with braces spiked to the base and upright that receive and hold the boards, the board lapping .eachother at their-ends, where they are-held by theV upright', thusmakingit necessary to l'Picket C, or' its equivalent, when nsedin'.

constructing a fence, substantialiy as and for the-purpose described.

combinationwithpicket G, or its equivalent, and base B, substantially as and for the 'purposes described.

3. A hinge or joint, when formed .by means of picket O, or its equivalent, and the perforated ends ot raiis andsuppo'rted by base B and braces FF, substantially as and for the purpose described. i

JOHN M. MAY. EDWIN B. GODFREY.

Witnesses: v

JEFFERSON NASH, ,.S; A.' HUDSON.

2. -\Braces F F, or theireqnivalent, when made substantially as described and used in 

